Control device for carton set-up machine



May 8, 1956 LE ROY F. CARKHUFF 2,744,599

CONTROL DEVICE FOR CARTON SET-UP MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 23, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

M y 1956 LE ROY F. CARKHUFF 2,744,599

CONTROL DEVICE FOR CARTON SET-UP MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 25, 1946 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

M y 1956 LE ROY F. CARKHUFF CONTROL DEVICE FOR CARTON SET-UP MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 25, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. L /90y FCa/"k/zaff United States PatentO CONTROL DEVICE FOR CARTON SET-UP MACHINE Le Roy F. Carkhuif, Morris, Ill.,.assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware 4 Claims. (Cl. 192-125) This invention pertains to machines for setting up egg cartons and has particular reference to machines for the setting up of cartons of the type disclosed in U. S. reissue patent to Troyk No. 18,922, dated August 22, 1933. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 711,855, filed November 23, 1946, now Patent N01 2,572,800 of October 23, 1951.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus or machine of the type described including a traveling partition set-up head on which the Troyk carton is supported in the operations of setting up its cellular partition structure, together with automatic stop means responsive to the presence or absence of a properly set-up carton on said head to permit further normal operation of the apparatus or to halt the appae ratus by interrupting its electrical energizingcircuit.

The foregoing indicates in a general way the nature of the invention. Other and more specific objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction and operation of the device.

A single embodiment of the carton controlled means of the present machine is illustrated herein; however, it will be appreciated that the invention may be incorporated in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In-the drawings, 7

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the carton set-up machine, broken away in part to show portions of its operating mechanism; V

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton in erected or set-up condition;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one form of automaticshut-otf suitable for the machine;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified forrnof automatic machine shut-off; and A t Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuits involved in the operation of the machine:

The Troyk type carton, which is designated by the reference numeral 1 and particularly illustrated in Fig. 3, comprisesa locking strip 2 having lock hooks formed along its free edge, the strip being hinged by a score line 3 with respect to a carton cover 4. Cover 4 ishinged by a fold line 5 to a rear wide wall 6, and thelatter is hinged at 7 to a bottom panel 8. Bottom panel 8 is hinged to v a substantially duplicate bottom panel 10 along a longitudinal partition. ridge 9. A row of openings is formed at the juncture of bottom panels 8, 10 to receive the transverse carton cell-defining partitions 11 in the set-up condition of the carton. Another row of spaced openings is formed in bottom panels 8, 10, each adapted to receive a hooked end 12 ofa transverse partition of the erected carton. Bottom panel 10 is hinged to a carton front side wall 13 along a fold line 14.

The individual transverse partitions 11 are cut from apanelextending between front wall 13 and a terminal 2 glue strip 15, which latter is attached by adhesive or other suitable fastening means to the inner surfaceof rear wall 6 to lie in face contacting engagement therewith. In the knocked-down condition of the cartons, transverse partitions 11 are folded along medial score lines 16 to lie coplanar with and against one another, to form a double ply of material. In the set-up condition of the carton, with the carton walls 6, 13, spread apart, the transverse partitions 11 spread out along fold line 16 into flat, horizontal extended position between walls 6, 13 and are thereafter swingable from flat, coplanar relation to spaced upstanding relation between and normal to the walls. The last named swinging occurs on opposed hinges 17. Each transverse partition is provided at its outer end with opposed identical books 12 Y which face each other, being medially notched in in-, verted V outline. 1 3 In the erected condition of the carton, bottom "panels 8, 10 are folded into inverted V formation to extend be- 7 tween the books 12, 12 of thespaced transverse partitions, forming a two-walled longitudinal partition 18 which divides the carton into two rows of cells. The upper medial portion ofthe opening between thehooks 12 of each transverse partition extends through the opening adjacent the juncture of panels 8 and 10, and the opposed hooks 12 extend through openings in bottom panel 8 and bottom panel 10, being firmly engaged therein and locked positively against withdrawal.

The function of the machine ofwhich the present invention is part is that of erecting the cartons from the fully flattened out knock-down condition in which they are shipped to usersto the fully erected, article-receiving form shown in Fig. 3.

Prior to a detailed description of the various operating instrumentalities of; the machine, a generaldescription of the basic parts thereof and their correlative functioning will facilitate an understanding of the specified features of improvement herein dealt' with. In this reference should be made to Figs.,l and 2. The operating partsare mounted on a' supporting base comprising spaced frame members 19 rigidly connected in parallel relation, said frame members furnishing journaling and supporting means for various shafts, brackets, etc., to behereinafterdescribed in detail.

A stack of knocked-down cartons of the type described above is maintained in a magazine or hopper, generally designated 20, which is composed of pairs of rear and front, angle iron, corner uprights 21, and the lowermost carton of the stack is periodically forwarded from the hopper for the setting up operation by a pair of simultaneously movable pusher lugs 22 acting in parallel paths hopper. The hopper floor extends between and is supported by frame members 19 and the uprights 21 are supported on this floor by suitable brackets.-

Upon issuance from the hopper 20, the lowermost carton is gauged as to thickness by a gauging and stripping instrumentality (not shown) whereby its variable vertical thickness at spaced points in"the direction of trayei thereof, arising from the multi-ply thickness of the carton stock at said points, is taken into account in preventing more than a single carton'to issue from the hopper. Passing" the gauging'and stripping theatre, the blank enters between the bight of the roller forwarding means, generally designated 24, comprising a pairof laterally spaced upper friction rolls 25 and a lower platen r011 26 coacting therewith in frictionally gripping and forwarding the carton. At this time the carton is appropriately printed by a printing roller not involved in the present.

roller forwarding means 25, it passes beneath'a pair of spring stripper and control fingers 27 which serve to maintain frictional control on the carton after it has pased from the bight of said roller means. At this time the leading edge of the collapsed carton is engaged by a pair of V-shapecl, traveling abutment members 23 (Fig. 2) which are adapted to erect the body of the carton. Members 2? are spaced laterally relative to one another, being carried on a yoke 29 for movement in counterclockwise direction into engagement with the carton. Simultaneously, a curved carton spreader arm 30 travels downwardly from the upraised position thereof illustrated in Fig. 2, passing through a certain aperture in the carton to engage the bottom wall 10 therebeneath and thrust the same downwardly against the lower arm of the V-shaped member 23. In the meantime, continuing movement of the last named member has brought the same into engagement with the carton. immediately following this, a carton set-up head, generally designated 31 and carried on an oscillatory arm support 32, is caused to travel in clockwise direction to engage the cross partition members 11 of the carton, the latter stages of the clockwise movement of head 31 being accompanied by a pivotal movement of certain partition erecting leaves 33 thereon toward fixed abutments 33 thereon, thus to swing the cross partitions into erected upright position. Movements of the partition set-up head and V-shaped erecting member are synchronized so that the former engages the carton in properly timed relation at the end of the counterclockwise stroke of the latter. Continued clockwise movement of the partition set-up head 31 carries the bottom forming wall of the carton against a plate-like erecting blade 34, whereby said bottom wall elements are shifted towards the cross partitions of the carton and latched relative to the hooks thereof. In this condition the erection of the carton is completed and it is discharged under engagement by a T-shapecl discharge foot 35, actuated in timed relation to the carton set-up head, down the inclined slide 36.

The various operating instrumentalities of the apparatus are driven from a suitable electric motor appropriately mounted between the frame members 19, as described in my earlier filed application, Serial No. 711,855, now Patent No. 2,572,800, October 23, 1951, identified above. They form no part of the present invention.

Reciprocatory actuation of the carton pusher lugs 22 is accomplished by the adjustable pull rods 37 (Fig. 1) which at their forward extremities are pivoted on a cross rod 38. Rod 38 is carried by spaced arms 39 which are secured on an oscillatory cross shaft 40 journaled in opposed frame members 19. Of the two arms 39, that appearing at the right in Fig. l is a component of a bell crank whose other arm 41 serves as an actuator for the shaft and arms, being clevis-connected by a member 42 to a suitable moving part, as described in my earlier filed application, which is actuated from a motor driven main drive shaft.

Oscillatory shaft 40 serves as a drive source for the automatic, interrupting mechanisms for throwing the machine out or operation, in the event cartons are not properly set up thereby, which are the particular subject matter or this application and which are shown in Figs. 4 and 5 hereof.

In the operation of the apparatus described above, the carton issues from between rollers 25, 26 and is brought under the frictional control of the spring elements 27. As the carton continues to travel, the leading edge, i. e., fold line 9, thereof is met and engaged by the V-shaped body erecting members 28, which are then traveling in an opposite direction (or counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2). Yoke 29 is oscillated on a counterclockwise stroke in timed relation to the advance of the carton for engagement with the V-shaped body erecting members, and the carton is guided to a position for proper engagement with the latter by means of the leaf spring guide 43. The trailing edge of the carton is spring held by elements 27 at this time.

Concurrently with the engagement of members 28 with the carton, the curved body spreader arm 30, appropriately actuated by a rocker arm 44 and connecting rod 45, swings counterclockwise through an opening in the carton to engage a wall of the carton therebeneath, which positively initiates the distention of the carton body without the imposition of excessive force on the leading edge 9 by members 28. At the time of initial engagement of the leading carton edge with members 28 the latter have almost concluded their stroke to the left. The curved spreader member 30 is given an appropriate downward stroke to initially distend the body of the carton, after which said spreader retracts.

At about the time the trailing portion of the carton, i. e., locking strip 2, has been released by carton feedout rollers 25, 26 and while the carton is still gripped by springs 27 the carton comes in contact along its forward fold line 9 with the lower surface of the spring steel guide 43 which serves to direct the carton into the apices of the -shaped body erecting member 28. Also at about this time the free edge of the longitudinal partition inserting blade 34 moves in a manner to serve temporarily as an abutting surface against which the carton bottom panel 10 may find support against displacement during the downward stroke of the carton body spreader member 30 described above.

As the V-shaped members withdraw to the right after fully distending the carton and member 26 withdraws upwardly, the transverse partition erecting head 31 which had previously started its forward counterclockwise operative stroke, contacts the as yet coplanar carton transverse partitions 11. As the head advances, the abutments 33 engage the cross partitions 11 of the carton to initiate bending thereof out of coplanar relation, and by the time the carton set-up head is fully engaged with the cross partitions of the carton, leaves 33 will have been spring urged, by certain provisions not shown, through their full closing stroke relative to the abutments 33' of the head, thus to clamp the cross partitions there beween and position the same in upstanding set-up relation between the opposite side walls of the carton. Head 31 also causes the carton body to be shaped to a generally trapezoidal outline. The carton is held on the partition set-up head by the clamping action of the leaves 33 on the abutments 33. The rest of the erecting operation is performed by blade 34 on the carton as supported on head 31.

The operating edge of blade 46 is notched to accommodate the cross partitions 11 previously erected by head 31, which enables full insertion of the blade relative to the carton body. The blade is now actuated to inwardly deflect the carton bottom, causing the bottom panels 8, 10 to be thrust to inverted V outline and to lockingly engage with the hooks 12 on the cross partitions 11. During this operation the feed of the carton on head 31 frees its trailing edge from springs 27.

Following the operation of the bottom erecting blade to engage the bottom forming panels 8, 10 of the carton with the erected cross partitions, it only remains to discharge the erected or set-up cartons from the machine. This function is performed by the spreader member 26. The latter is actuated by a two lobed cam, as described in my earlier application, and it takes a second stroke to dislodge the carton from head 31, whose leaves 33 have by this time separated from abutments 33'. The cartons are dropped on their bottoms onto the discharge slide 36, after which the compietcly set-up carton, plus the preceding series of set-up cartons which have been dis charged in the same way, is forwarded in the discharge direction by the oscillatory T-shaped discharge foot 35 generally described above.

The subject improvements in the apparatus involve mechanism for automatically interrupting the operation 5 of the same-in the event thata carton is not properly handled. InFigs. 4 and 'S-there-are shown alternate forms of such mechanism for automatically stopping the machine in the:event that it should for any reason fail to properly set up a carton-on any work cycle.

- Reference to Fig. '3 indicates that, in the set-up condition of the Troyk type carton, the ends of the hooks 12 formed at the free end of the transverse partitions 11 extend a substantial distance outwardly of bottom forming panels 8, 10. .Theautomatic machine-throw out mechanism ICfCI'I'Cd 'IO operates on a principle involving this fact, vIn short, the machine throwout mechanism is in hibited, from functioning during each work cycle of the machine, so long as thehooked ends 12 of the transverse partitions contact an operating lever, as they will invariably do when each carton is properjlyset. up; but when the operating lever fails to make .cdnta'ctas above described, as it will invariably do when a 'cartonis not prop: erly' setup, the automaticv machine stopping mechanism causes the electric operating circuit of the machine to be broken, thereby interrupting its operation. I p

Referring nowto Fig.4 in' conjunction with Fig. l, the reference numeral 48 indicates an arm which is fixedly attached tooscillatory shaft40. Arm 48 is pivotally connected to an elongated'rod' 49 which is bent approximately medially of its length to form an upwardly 'extending arch 5 0 in which is positioned a pin 51 on a pivoted mercury'switch-carr yi'n'g member'52' which is hereinafter described. I t

Rod 49 extends generally horizontally and longitudinally forwardly of the machine to terminate in a free end adjacent which is a stirrup or yoke 53, within which said rod may 'have free reciprocatory movement under the urging of oscillatory arm 48. Theyoke has a rearwardly extending arm 54 formed integral therewith which is attached to theiouter endof a'rod 55 which is pivotally supported on the 'longitudinalpartition inserting blade 34 through the agency of hinge plate 34'. Rod 55 is of sufficient length to permit an integral control or actuating crank 56 on one end thereof to be contacted by the downwardly extending hooked ends 12 of two adjacent transverse partitions of a carton, when the same is properly set up on head 31. Accordingly, the crank pivots rod 55 to lift yoke 53 each and every time said crank 56 is contacted as above described by the ends of the transverse partitions of a properly set up carton.

The switch carrying arm 52 is mounted on an inner side of one frame member 19 by a pivot bolt 57 and is tipped slightly forwardly in its normal position by a helical spring 58 which has one end clipped into a washer 59 and its other end clipped to arm 52. The pin 51 on arm 52 extends outwardly to position adjacent arch 59 in rod 49 and positioned therebelow is a spring clip 60 in which is mounted'a mercury switch 61. The latter is normally held in tilted circuit closing position under the urging of spring 58. The reference numerals 62, 63 indicate current carrying leads through which a motor energizing circuit for the apparatus is maintained by switch 61 in its normal tilted position.

During operation of the machine the arm 48 and rod 49 are undergoing constant reciprocation, and each time a carton is set up the projecting book ends 12 of transverse carton partitions 11 contact the control crank 56, forcing it forwardly and coincidentally lifting yoke 53. Each time the yoke is lifted it lifts rod 49, thereby preventing pin 51 from being actuated by the end of arched portion 50. Rod 49 passes over pin 51 without striking the same and without causing pivoted member to rock forwardly to the dotted line position (Fig. 4), a position in which the switch 61 opens the machine circuit.

However, in the event that no carton is set up by the machine during its work cycle, there is nothing to contact crank 56, hence rod 49 is not lifted by yoke 53 and operating pin 51 of switch bearing member 52 is contacted by the inner rear surface of arch 50, as a result of which the entire switch carrying arm is pivotedto dotted line position forwardly of the machine. This movement causes the mercury in switch 61 to break the circuit between leads 62, 63, thereby stopping the machine, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. An attendant can then ascertain why a carton is not at head 31. The circuit is restored at the control by simply lifting rod 49.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is in this instance shown an automatic machine stopping electric circuit breaker making use of a micro-switch rather than the mercury switch used in the form of similar device shown in Fig. 4. in this instance a rod 55 also has at its free end the angularly bent transverse partition contacting crank 56 and is medially pivoted on a hinge plate 34' which is attached to carton longitudinal partition inserting blade 34. An elongated finger 64 is rigidly attached to rod 55 opposite its operating crank 56 and is pivotally movable therewith. The free end of finger 64 extends through an elongated slot 65 provided in a fiat spring member 66,- which is piv oted for vertical swinging movement to the free end of an L-shaped bracket 67 attached to the machine frame member 19.

A normally closed micro-switch 68 is diagrammatically illustrated, being attached to the frame member 19 in hori zontal alignment with L-shaped bracket 67. The operating button 69 of micro-switch 68 is exposed and adapted to be contacted by the medial portion of flat spring member 66 under certain conditions, as hereinafter set forth, said button being positioned to face in the direction of the machine hopper. A lug 70 extends from one end of the frame of transverse partition set-up head 31, this lug being of suiiicient length to contact fiat spring member 66 in the lowered, dotted line position of the latter, as the head advances toward the micro-switch. It cannot, of course, contact such spring in the elevated position there- Whenever during the work cycle of the machine 'a carton is properly set up, the ends 12 of the carton transverse partitions will contact control crank 56, tilting it in a direction forwardly of the machine and finger 64 will be lifted thereby, carrying with it flat spring 66. The lug 70 on the set-up head 31 will then fail to contact spring 66, and hence the circuit through micro-switch 68 is unbroken and the machine will continue to operate in regular manner.

However, in the event that a carton should fail to be set up during the operating cycle of the machine, crank 56 is not actuated, and spring 66 remains in the downward position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. Hence, lug 76 will contact the end of said spring, forcing its medial portion into engagement with operating button 69 of micro-switch 68, thereby breaking the machines electric operating circuit.

Fig. 6 illustrates the switch 62 of Fig. 4 (or the switch 68 of Fig. 5) as associated with a control relay unit 71 for the machine. This relay may be of the Allen-Bradley type, type B, having a type N thermo unit. The reference numeral 72 generally designates a start-stop switch (also shown in Fig. 1). Relay 71 includes a thermally re sponsive control unit 73 adapted to interrupt the electrical circuit of the motor 74 of the apparatus upon overload of the same, and a relay unit 75 responsive to manual actuation of switch 72, in a manner understood by those skilled in the art. Motor 74 is manually energizable and deenergizabie by manipulation of switch 72; it is automatically energizable and de-energizable by switch 62 (or 68) in accordance with whether or not a carton is on set-up head 31, as described, or by overload switch 73, in the event of motor overheating.

I claim:

1. in a machine for setting-up cartons wherein a set-up head is mounted for reciprocation in a predetermined path, an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the machine including a cut-off switch which is operative to stop the machine, an operating member for said cut-of! switch mounted adjacent the path of movement of said head and normally positioned to render said cut-off switch inoperative, an actuating element movably mounted adjacent the path of said head for engagement by a portion of a carton carried on said head, said actuating element being moved by engagement with said carton and remaining in its normal position when there is no carton on the head, and a link means connecting said actuating element and said switch operating member whereby said switch operating member is moved into position to operate said cut-oif switch in response to movement of said actuating element.

2. In a machine as recited in claim I wherein said switch operating member is a pivotally mounted arm normally held in non-operative position, and the link means connecting said operating member and its actuating element comprises a swingably mounted reciprocating bar having a portion thereof adapted to engage and pivot said arm when'said bar is swung to a predetermined position, and means connecting said bar with said actuating element whereby said bar is swung into and out of position for engagement with said pivoted arm in accordance with movement of said actuating element.

3. A control for a carton set-up machine having a reciprocating set-up head, including an automatic throwout mechanism operative to interrupt the machine upon absence of a carton from the head, said mechanism comprising an electrical control circuit for said machine, a cut-out switch in said circuit, and actuating element movable into and out of position for contact with said set-up head during travel of the latter, a control element on said cut-out switch positioned adjacent said actuating element for engagement and operation by said actuating element when said actuating element is in the position for contact by said set-up head, means for variably positioning said actuating element in accordance with the presence or absence of a carton on-said head comprising an oscillatory crank member 'mounted for engagement by a carton on said traveling head, and a member rigidly eonnectcd to said crank member and operatively connecting the same to said actuating element to position the latter in and out of head contacting position, respectively, in accordance with non-engagement or engagement of said crank member with a carton on the head.

4. In a carton set-up machine having a reciprocating set-up head and cooperating elements for setting up cartons thereon, an electrical control circuit for said machine, a cut-out switch in said circuit having a control element, a movable actuating element for said control element mounted adjacent the path of movement of said reciprocating head and swingable into and out of position for engagement by said set-up head and movement thereby to actuate said control element, a crank arm rotatably mounted adjacent the path of movement of said reciprocating head and having a free end projecting into the path of movement of a set-up carton on said head whereby said crank arm is rotated by engagement with said carton, and means including a linkage between said crank arm and said actuating element for moving said actuating element into head engaging position upon rotation of said crank arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,529,903 Mojonnier et a1. Mar. 17, 1925 1,555,596 Miller Sept. 29, 1925 1,887,596 Katz Nov. 15, 1935 1,963,083 Fink et al June 19, 1938 2,286,130 Vergobbi June 9, 1942 2,291,264 Vergobbi July 28, 1942 2,572,800 Carkhufi Oct. 23, 1951 

